ERS 604Advanced Topics in Global Environmental Governance0.50 units
This course examines the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed by means of 'global governance' - that is, international organizations and institutions intended to deal with these environmental challenges. Concepts are investigated both to help analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses of existing structures and to suggest ways in which alternative forms of global governance might advance sustainability. Specific organizations and other actors presently active in global environmental governance are given particular attention, as is the management of selected global environmental challenges.
ERS 606Governing Global Food and Agriculture0.50 units
This course examines the international rules and organizations that have emerged to govern the increasingly global system of food and agriculture. Specific themes to be covered include governance issues related to the rise of global food coporations, agricultural trade liberalization and the WTO, food aid distribution, international agricultural assistance, the global agro-chemical industry and agricultural biotechnology.
Community Economic Development is a field of theory, process and practice that is concerned with understanding the forces shaping communities and finding sustainable local solutions to economic needs. This seminar course will examine topics such as capacity-building, asset-based strategies, social capital, poverty-alleviation, social enterprises and co-operatives, and comprehensive community initiatives, using international and local examples and case studies.
Renewable and non-renewable energy supply systems are compared using economic and environmental measures. Consumption trends, conservation options and choices are considered at the household, community and global scales. Projects are used to demonstrate the economic and environmental challenges in the design of sustainable energy systems. *eligible for MES.
ERS 622Biosphere Reserves as Social-Ecological Systems0.50 units
The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve is one of 16 UNESCO biosphere reserves in Canada, and is used as a setting to learn about sustainable community development, adaptive resource management, and social and ecological resilience. The main objective is to link practical experience "on the ground" with some of the theoretical concepts related to sustainability and complex social ecological systems.
ERS 650Topics in Governance and Sustainable Communities0.50 units
Topics in Governance and Sustainable Communities is a course that considers various contemporary socio-ecological issues and challenges in urban and rural communities. The course focuses on effective local approaches to environmental governance and decision-making. Topics will vary from year to year. Examples include integrated water, food, or energy systems, ecological design and restoration, biosphere reserves, green infrastructure, sustainable livelihoods, ecological democracy and environmental justice. Course requirements include weekly readings and discussants, a term paper and presentation related in some manner to a student's thesis work.
Government decisions to conserve rather than develop natural resources are nationally and internationally significant, but are often controversial. This course examines public policy objectives, issues and diverse perspectives related to the conservation of marine and terrestrial environments through the establishment and ongoing management of parks and protected areas. Lectures, seminar discussions and assignments engage students in the exploration of key public policy conservation issues.
This course will examine different ways of knowing and modes of research design relevant for interdisciplinary environmental research. Students will also be introduced to an array of quantitative and qualitative research methods in the natural and social sciences and will explore methods relevant to their research through class discussions and assignments.
The goal of the course is to ensure that all students will have a completed proposal by the end of term. The course will help students design and implement an appropriate research project and communicate results.
This course is intended to help students establish a reasonable working base from which to explore different fields of interest related to the pursuit of sustainability in a world of complex socio-ecological systems. The course focuses on the nature and implications of the intertwined theories, concepts and principles that are foundational to studies and applications in the transdisciplinary MES program.
The course examines how societies can respond in practical ways to complexity, change and uncertainty, Social and ecological theory is blended with examples of applications and strategies (local/global) to support management and governance in social-ecological systems. Emphasis is placed on how individuals and societies can transcend disciplinary thinking to build our capacity to foster sustainability.
This course examines the role of soil in the environment and its importance as a natural resource in agriculterial and forest productivity and the effects on soild due to mismanagement.
ERS 701Sustainability in Complex Socio-Ecological Systems0.50 units
Consideration of transdisciplinary theoretical and methodological frameworks for analysing issues that arise from the complex interactions among human decision making, communities and biophysicial systems at various scales. The frameworks chosen are applicable to broad environment and resource issues as well as to a wide range of more specific topics.
ERS 702Critical Analysis and Advance Research in Environmental Studies0.50 units
Examination of the process leading from design of critical transdisciplinary research to publication of findings and other outreach to the broader community. The course will include examination of doctoral research design in ERS, the nature of potential findings and means of dissemination of findings, including the diverse academic literature in environmental studies.